Fly Away by Nora Rock

carefully around the porch, careful to avoid the noisy gravel at the foundation.
    Shona pointed at something on the back wall.
    â€œWhat?!” I gasped.
    â€œShh,” she said. “It’s a dryer vent. That’s a laundry room. Won’t be anyone in there. We can keep going.”
    We sidled past the laundry-room window. The last window, at the northwest corner, was the one with the light. But it was above our heads. We were too close to the building to see in.
    â€œYou’ll have to boost me up again,” Shona said.
    When I did, she instantly ducked back down, almost knocking me over. She stared at me, wide-eyed with panic.
    â€œHe’s right there! In the window!”
    Terror rooted me to the spot. I remembered Benedict’s intense gaze. I desperately wanted to run, but Shona had dropped to her knees, and she had my wrist in a viselike grip.
    â€œWait,” she whispered. “Hush.”
    We waited, trembling, for more than a minute. “Did he see you?” I asked.
    â€œI guess not,” she breathed. “It’s an office. His desk faces out the window. He was looking at a computer screen…”
    I nodded. “Well, at least we know where he is,” I said. “Let’s go.”
    We reached the corner of the building. A wide trellis extended from the corner. We had to cross the lawn to get around it. We weren’t prepared when we stepped right into a pool of light that came from a pair of French doors.
    On the other side of the doors, curled up on a couch, watching television, was Arielle. She saw us right away and jumped to her feet. In three strides, she was at the doors.
    â€œMarnie!” she exclaimed, her voice alarmingly loud. “And Shona…,” she added, looking even more surprised. “What are you doing here? Come in.”
    I was afraid to go in, but we needed her to keep her voice down. We stepped into the warmth of the house.
    â€œWhy did you come to this door?” she asked. “Have you met Trey?”
    â€œNo,” I whispered. “Could you keep your voice down, Ari?”
    â€œWhy?” she asked. Confusion flickered across her face. “He doesn’t know you’re here, does he?” she finally said, answering her own question.
    â€œHis gatekeeper told us you weren’t here,” I said. “Earlier, when we tried to get in. And your phone’s been off for days.”
    â€œI know,” she admitted.
    â€œYou could have told me about all this,” I said. “Why didn’t you trust me?”
    She didn’t answer. “There’s no reason you can’t be here,” she said instead. “You’re my guests. Sit.”
    But we wouldn’t.
    â€œAre my parents on their way?” she asked.
    â€œNo,” Shona said. “They don’t know. Yet.”
    â€œWe wanted to find you first,” I added. “See what was going on.”
    Arielle nodded. “Thanks.”
    I stood, hyperalert, in the doorway, listening for sounds in the house.
    â€œWhy are you so freaked out?” Arielle asked. “I love it here. I’m getting lots of painting done. I’m sorry, Marnie, that I didn’t tell you what I was doing. But—”
    â€œHe’s a criminal!” Shona said.
    Arielle frowned. “Hardly.”
    I heard footsteps.
    â€œHe made sketches of your paintings,” I said hurriedly. “He posted them online. On that site. Without mentioning you.” We had to go. Now. Someone was coming.
    Shona heard it too, and she grabbed the door handle. I edged toward the door.
    â€œArielle?” somebody called.
    Shona ran out the door, and I followed. “Call me, Arielle!” I said. “Call!”
    Eduardo moved into my line of sight. I turned and ran.

chapter twenty-four
    Shona made it all the way around the house, but about four meters from the shed she stopped short.
    â€œRun!” I screamed.
    But she was frozen to